William "Bill" Albert Simpson
August 4, 1941 - May 17, 2026
William “Bill” Albert Simpson, age 84, of La Plata, Missouri, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the La Plata Nursing Home in La Plata, Missouri.
Born August 4, 1941, in Robinson, Illinois, the middle child of the Reverend Keith and Josephine (Eickmann) Simpson. On March 14, 1981, in Camden, Arkansas, he was united in marriage to Linda Hudgens who preceded him in death on August 6, 2025.
Also preceding him in death were his parents and two children, Gwen Fricke and Lee Simpson.
Surviving is one daughter, Monica (Gary) Cripe; four grandchildren, Jennifer Lamb, Barbara Adamson, Victoria Simpson, and Ben Fricke; three great grandchildren, Rose Forsythe, Jensen Rightmeier, and Dylan Lamb; one sister, Elsie Steele; and one brother, John Simpson.
Bill was a 1959 graduate of Monmouth High School in Monmouth, Illinois. He honorable served in the United States 7th Army from October 1959 to September 1962. He was mostly stationed in Germany as a photo reconnaissance film developer and image interpreter during the cold war.
Bill later attended Western Illinois University earning a B.S. Degree. He always worked in education, teaching at the university level. Much of his career was spent at Southern Arkansas University Fire Training Academy in Camden, Arkansas teaching firefighting, fire investigation, and first responder courses.
Private graveside services will be in the La Plata Cemetery, La Plata, Missouri at a later date.
Memorials in memory of Bill may be made to the La Plata Cemetery. They may be
